Taxus plant named ‘Geers’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Taxus  plant named ‘Geers’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and arching plant form; bright yellow green-colored leaves; foliage resistant to sun and winter burning; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Taxus×media cultivar Geers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Taxus, botanically known as Taxus×media, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Geers’.

The new Taxus is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Taxus×media cultivar Hicksii, not patented. The Inventor discovered the new Taxus as a single branch mutation within a population of plants of the parent ‘Hicksii’ in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in 1986.

Asexual reproduction of the new Taxus by hardwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since 1996 has shown that the unique features of this new Taxus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Geers have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and culture such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Geers’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Geers’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Taxus:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and arching plant form.     -   2. Bright yellow green-colored leaves.     -   3. Foliage resistant to sun and winter burning.     -   4. Tolerant to low temperatures.     -   Plants of the new Taxus are most similar to plants of the         parent, the cultivar Hicksii. Plants of the new Taxus differ         primarily from plants of the cultivar Hicksii in the following         characteristics:     -   1. Plants of the new Taxus are slower growing than plants of the         cultivar Hicksii.     -   2. Plants of the new Taxus are shorter, but more outwardly         spreading and not as upright as plants of the cultivar Hicksii.     -   3. Plants of the new Taxus are more freely branching than plants         of the cultivar Hicksii.     -   4. Plants of the new Taxus and the cultivar Hicksii differ in         foliage coloration as plants of the cultivar Hicksii have dark         green-colored foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Taxus.

The photographs on the sheet comprise side perspective views of a typical plant of ‘Geers’ grown in the landscape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown in Grand Haven, Mich., during the summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which approximate commercial Taxus production. During the winter plants were grown in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. Plants had been growing for about two years when the photographs and description were taken.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Taxus×media cultivar Geers. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Taxus×media     Hicksii, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one month at 10° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About three months at 10°             C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Outwardly spreading and arching perennial evergreen             tree.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with branches outwardly             arching, branchlets borne in the same plane; about 112             branches per plant. Trees maintain their lower branches and             foliage to the soil level.         -   Plant height.—About 43 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 35 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter: About             3.5 mm. Internode length: About 4 mm. Color: 143A.         -   Bark description.—Woody, 177B.         -   Winter bud description.—Length: About 4 mm. Width: 2 mm.             Shape: Acute with imbricate scales. Color: 166B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Linear, flattened.             Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Venation             pattern: Linear. Color: Foliage resistant to sun and winter             burning. Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: 144C. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: 144B; stomata bands not observed. Venation, upper             and lower surfaces: Same as lamina. Petiole length: About             1.5 mm. Petiole diameter: About 0.5 mm. Petiole color, upper             and lower surfaces: 144B. -   Cone description: Cone development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Taxus have not been noted     to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Taxus. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Taxus have been observed to be     tolerant to drought, rain, wind and temperatures ranging from −25 to     30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Taxus plant named ‘Geers’, as illustrated and described. 